The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has maintained its decision to opt out of the all-party committee on railways, stating that the Meghalaya government is already aware of the people’s sentiments on the issue.
VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit questioned the need for the committee, saying, “We have already made our stand clear in the State Assembly. If the government feels a railway is needed, they can go ahead.”
The VPP and Congress have declined to be involved in the all-party committee, with the latter accusing the government of trying to pass the buck on the sensitive issue. Pressure groups and some political parties are opposed to the coming of rail to Khasi-Jaintia Hills (a service already exists linking North Garo Hills to Assam) until the Inner Line Permit is implemented in the state to keep a check on migration.
Last week government spokesperson and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh criticised the decision of the VPP and Congress to stay away from the committee, which, he said, would be the best platform to hear all views, for and against.
Meanwhile, the VPP has emphasised the need for heightened security along the Indo-Bangladesh border, rather than prioritising fencing. Basaiawmoit said, “The government should strengthen the presence of armed forces in the border areas, irrespective of having a fence or not.”
Meghalaya shares a 443km-long border with Bangladesh, sections of which are unfenced, in part due to landowners being unwilling to part with their property to set up a barrier. The state government last week instructed Deputy Commissioners in concerned districts to make fencing a priority.
Reacting to the state government’s announcement to prioritise border fencing, Basaiawmoit said that while the people are not opposing fencing, they are negotiating to ensure that they do not lose large tracts of land, especially cultivable land.
“The government needs to think seriously about the concerns of the people in the border areas and provide alternative livelihood options,” Basaiawmoit said.
